Archive for the 'Mike Summers' Tag Under 'USC' Category

``I think it’s unlimited, in terms of where he can go,’’ offensive line coach Mike Summers said.

A left tackle generally only gets attention when he does something wrong, so the Trojans are thrilled that Wheeler has escaped widespread notice through the first three games of the season. Wheeler is, far and away, USC’s most unlikely standout of 2013, the player who has gone from unknown to team pillar.

A year ago, Wheeler inspired different questions from team followers, less-optimistic questions such as, ``Is this guy even going to play?’’ or ``Why is he on scholarship?’’

Wheeler entered USC last year listed at 260 pounds but almost certainly was lighter. He’s now up to 295 pounds, which, given his 6-foot-6 frame, makes him look like a legitimate tackle. Now, Wheeler has some bulk to put behind his great footwork and on-field intelligence, and his learning curve has been steep.

Whether it's bubble screens, post patterns or off-tackle runs, USC’s playcalling will always get nit-picked, and none of it works without a solid offensive line. That’s been an area of some concern.

The Trojans have made week-to-week, incremental improvements on the line, which features only one full-time starter who was playing the same position a year ago (right tackle Kevin Graf). It’s a new-look unit with a first-year line coach, Mike Summers, who is searching for some consistency.

USC’s run game has been solid, with an average of 4.5 yards per attempt, but the Trojans’ quarterbacks have been under pressure because of line breakdowns and have been sacked six times in three games.

Things seem to be on the upswing, though. Against Boston College last Saturday, the Trojans rushed for 257 yards and completed 17 of 19 pass attempts (with two sacks). It was, both statistically and visually, the best performance by USC’s offensive line in three games this season.

``I’m encouraged,’’ Summers said after Tuesday’s practice. ``I think the last was just another step that we took, in trying to come together as a unit. Certainly we’ve got things we need to improve on, but I’m encouraged.’’

It’s increasingly likely that a minor will play a major role for USC this month.

Justin Davis, a 17-year-old freshman, might start at tailback if senior Silas Redd is unable to play in the Trojans’ Aug. 29 season opener at Hawaii. That seems probable given Redd’s slow recovery from summer knee surgery, and Coach Lane Kiffin dropped a significant hint after Tuesday’s practice.

Redd, who tore his meniscus in spring football, has missed more than half of the fall practices and, when on the field, has been limited to light no-contact drills.

Asked if Redd would be ready for the season opener, Kiffin said, ``I’m not sure that he will be.’’ After a long pause, Kiffin added, ``But I hope so.’’

Redd rushed for 904 yards and nine touchdowns in 2012 but was limited by nagging injuries throughout the season. His absence against Hawaii would be mitigated by the impressive Davis, who has turned heads since he entered USC as an early-enrollment freshman this spring.

USC announced the promotion of quarterbacks coach Clay Helton to offensive coordinator and also confirmed the hiring of three assistant coaches and a staff reorganization.

Helton, 40, has been USC's quarterbacks coach for the past three seasons and will retain that job. It's unknown whether he will call plays or whether Coach Lane Kiffin will retain those duties. Kennedy Polamalu, formerly USC's offensive coordinator and running backs coach, did not call plays.

USC also announced the hiring of Tommie Robinson as running backs coach and passing-game coordinator, and confirmed the hirings of Mike Summers (as offensive line coach and running-game coordinator) and Mike Ekeler (as linebackers coach).

''I am excited to have completed the reconstruction of our staff,'' Kiffin said in a statement. ''It was a very exhaustive and thorough process.''

Among current assistants, special teams coach John Baxter will now also coach tight ends and James Cregg, formerly the offensive line coach, will assist Summers with the offensive line.

USC has hired Mike Summers as its new offensive-line coach, per a report by CBS Sports. James Cregg, who spent the last three seasons as USC's line coach, is expected to remain on the staff in a different capacity.

Summers, 56, had served as line coach at Kentucky since 2010 before joining Western Kentucky's staff last month under new coach Bobby Petrino. USC lineman Zach Banner first ''reported'' the hiring when he posted (then deleted) a welcome to Summers on his Twitter account.

Summers would be returning to the Pac-12 Conference after an 18-year gap. After early-career stops at Kentucky, Texas A&M and Northern Illinois, he served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Oregon State from 1991-95, a time when the Beavers were known for a strong running game.

After four more college stops, Summers spent one season as the offensive-line coach for the Atlanta Falcons, then returned to college for two seasons at Arkansas and two seasons at Kentucky.

In that last job, Summers worked on the same staff as current USC receivers coach Tee Martin. In 2012, Summers was named one of 29 nominees for the Frank Broyles Award, given annually to college football's top assistant coach.